Elementary School Teacher

O*NET: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education·25-2021.00

The Verdict:Classroom teaching demands real-time presence to manage young children, adapt to behaviors, build relationships, and lead hands-on activities. AI aids planning, grading, and records but cannot replicate human judgment in discipline, motivation, or socio-emotional growth. Certification and parental expectations protect the role through the next decade.

Resilience Score

/100

Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$62k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

-2%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 2 of 38 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
23 of 38 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 34% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

2exposed

13AI leverage

23human-essential

View all 38 tasks

AI Can Handle This2 tasks

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.

Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.

AI Leverage13 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.

Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.

Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.

Assign and grade class work and homework.

Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.

Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.

Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.

Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.

Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of elementary school programs.

Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.

Administer standardized ability and achievement tests, and interpret results to determine student strengths and needs.

Organize and label materials and display students' work.

Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.

Human Advantage23 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.

Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.

Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.

Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.

Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.

Read books to entire classes or small groups.

Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.

Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.

Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.

Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.

Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.

Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.

Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.

Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, and storytelling.

Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.

Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.

Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.

Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.

Perform administrative duties, such as school library assistance, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.

Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.

Involve parent volunteers and older students in children's activities to facilitate involvement in focused, complex play.

Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.

Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.

Resilience Landscape

Elementary School Teacher lands in Stable, Lower Pay

Higher Resilience Paths in Education

Education

Elementary School Teacher

Task Analysis

Resilience Landscape

Higher Resilience Paths in Education

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